An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day, Part 101

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1038

USA > California > Los Angeles County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 101
USA > California > San Diego County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 101
USA > California > Orange County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 101
USA > California > San Bernardino County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 101

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

bell, present Superior Judge. In 1884 he was elected on the Republican ticket to the Superior Bench of San Bernardino Connty, and filled that office with distinguished ability for over four years, until he resigned to accept the judicial position of Supreme Court Commissioner, to which he was appointed by the Supreme Court on May 16, 1889, for the term of four years. Though perhaps the youngest man to occupy so exalted a judicial position in the history of the State, Judge Gibson has already fully demon- strated his eminent fitness in both natural and acquired qualifications for the high office. Be- ing a zealons student and an indefatigable worker, he has compensated by personal effort for the lack of a university education. In addi- tion to his extraordinary legal attainments he is also a fine literary scholar and gentleman of broad general culture. He is of a philosophical type of mind, and his written opinions are lucid and logical analyses of the questions at issue, dealing with the philosophy and equity of the law in its applications to the cases nnder ad- judication rather than with superficial inter- pretations or technicalities. His citations from the books are limited to a few well-selected cases that are plainly analagous to the one under con- sideration. In addition to these high mental qualities, Jndge Gibson possesses an inherent love of justice, forming a combination which adinirably adapts him for most successful labor on the bench. He has also served efficiently in the National Gnard of California as Major and Assistant Adjutant General and as Engineer Officer on the First Brigade staff.

In 1882 Judge Gibson united in wedlock with Miss Sarah Waterman, of Colton, a native of Missouri, born near St. Joseph, in which city her father, now of Arizona, was formerly a prominent merchant. Mrs. Gibson was edu- cated at the Western Female Seminary at Ox- ford, Ohio, and was a model of her sex. She was ever a living inspiration to her fond hus- band, encouraging him at every step in his ris- ing and honorable career by her wifely devotion and stimulating words of love. She suffered

for a year with bronchitis, and in spite of every effort human knowledge and medical skill could devise to stay its progress, on December 2, 1889, she passed away, bnoyed with the Chris- tian's hope that she entertained from her youth, leaving her sorrowing husband and two bright, lovely children; Mary W., aged seven years, and James A. Gibson, five years of age, both of whom were born in the county of San Bernard- ino. Thus was the measure of their domestic bliss ruthlessly cut short in the noontide of its realization by the untimely removal of the noble wife and mother.

SAAC V. GILBERT located in Riverside in 1881, seeking a desirable place of residence and safe investment of his capital. He pur- chased seven acres of land on Jurupa avenue, in Brockton square, from E. W. Holmes. Upon this tract he erected a substantial cottage residence, suitable ontbuildings etc., and also added beanty and comfort to his home by laying ont roads, walks and lawus, and planting ornamental trees and floral plants. He has produced a beautiful and worthy specimen of a California home. His orange grove, of three and one-half acres, is composed mostly of seedling trees, abont seven- teen years of age. They are some of the finest to be found in that section, and give a yield of $450 per acre, under the intelligent care and fertilization he has given them. He has also a large variety of decidnous fruits, such as apples, quince, peach, prune, plum, etc., and also a large variety of table grapes. He has made his home a model of beauty and productivness. In 1885 Mr. Gilbert and others projected the establiel- ment of a national bank in Riverside, and was one of the original incorporators of one of the soundest banking institutions in San Bernardino County. He was its first president and held that position for three years. Since then he has been on the board of directors, and auditor of the bank. He is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Arlington and Treasurer

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

of the same. In politics he is a Republican, and has taken a highi stand in the financial and social circles of Riverside, and gained the re- spect and esteem of his associates.

Mr. Gilbert was born in Troy, New York, in 1826. When eleven years of age his parents moved to Illinois and located in Knox County. His father, Charles Gilbert, was a native of Hartford, Connecticut, and previous to settling in the West had been engaged in mercantile pursuits. There he engaged in farming, and Isaac was reared to that calling upon his father's farm, near Galesburg. He received a good education, closing his studies by a term in Knox College. Mr. Gilbert spent his life, pre- vions to coming to California, in agricultural pursuits in Illinois, and was very successful in luis enterprise. In 1848 he wedded Miss Han- nalı Brown, a native of New Jersey. The three children from this marriage are: Mary, now Mrs. Orland Chandler, of San Bernardino; Sarah E., now Mrs. C. O. Perine, of Riverside, and Mat- tie, who married Alonzo D. Haight, a fruit packer and shipper of Redlands, San Bernard- ino County.

SAAC BESSANT, a farmer of San Bernard- ino County, was born in Barclay, England in 1816. He was married there in 1844 to Miss Mary A. Mitchell, and in 1853 they sailed from Liverpool and after a voyage of forty-two days landed in New Orleans. They went by steamer to St. Louis, and at the end of six weeks to Keokuk, lowa. Here Mr. Bessant worked at brick-making and burning lime, etc. H then bought a team and went by land, 300 miles, to Council Bluffs, where he arrived July 4, 1853, and from that place crossed the plains to Utal, where he arrived October 22, 1853. March 5, 1857, they left Utah for the "Golden State," where, in San Bernardino County, he has oper- ated as a successful farmer and dealer in lands, and stock-raising. With others he has endured the hardships of the early days, and las ınade a

home for himself, and given his children, most of whom are married and well settled in life in this valley, a good start in life. Ilis children are Stephen, James and John; these three were born in England; Joseph and Iram, both born in Utah; and Saralı, born in California, now Mrs. George Cooley, of San Bernardino. Mr. Bessant built a new residence on Base Line a year ago, and had only just moved into it when, September 22, 1888, death took from him the partner of his yonth. He is now well along on the shady side of the hill of life.

OHN BESSANT, one of the enterprising farmers on Base Line, three miles east of San Bernardino city, has a fine ranch and a neat residence in Warm Spring district, where, with his family, he is enjoying the pleasures of life as much, perhaps, as any man in the valley. By birth he is an Englishman. His father, Isaac Bessant, came to America at an early day and crossed the plains to California in 1853, when our subject was but two years of age. His boyhood was spent in hard work; hence his educational advantages were not of the best. May 1, 1869, he married Miss Melissa McCrary, a native of Salt Lake City. She was the dangh- ter of John McCrary, who came to California when she was a babe but eight months old. They have two children: Lena L. and Mary E. Politically he affiliates with the Democratic party and has held various township offices. Socially he is a member of the K. of P., Valley Lodge, No. 27.

AMES BESSANT was born in England, November 5, 1847, and is a son of Isaac Bessant, a well-known pioneer of this valley. Our subject had to endure the hardships of the early days, but at this time he has for his labors and industry a pleasant home on Base Line, two and one half-miles northeast of San Bernardino.

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

He has recently built a neat residence and with his family is enjoying the comforts of life. He was married December 25, 1874, to Miss Elsie Cline, born at El Monte. Los Angeles County, in February, 1856. She is a daughter of Henry Cline, a well-known pioneer of this county. This union was blessed with seven children, viz .: Sarah, Walter, Jodie, William, Rosa, Martha and Susan. Mr. Bessant is an active and en- thusiastic worker in the interests of the Dem- ocratie party.

ENRY A. PULS .- Among the older set- tlers and well-known residents of Riverside is the subject of this sketch. Mr. Puls came to Riverside in 1876, seeking a home, and in the same year purchased a ten-acre tract on Bandini avenue, about one- half mile west of Brockton avenue, and commenced his horticult- ural pursuits. In 1878 he purchased five acres adjoining his original tract. His was the first house built in this locality, and he may well be called a pioneer of that section of the colony. He has each year added to his improvements, taking up many of the deciduous trees first planted and replaced them with citrus fruits. He has now orange groves and vineyards that he has just reasons to be proud of. His eight acres of orange trees are some of the first in the colony, and these trees that are in bearing are remarkably prolific in yield. In 1889 the orange crop on five acres of his orchard sold on the trees for $4,262. Four acres of his land are in Bartlett pears that give satisfactory re- turn. Two acre- are devoted to raisin grapes. Mr. Puls is not devoting all his attention to his home place, for he is the owner of a thirty- acre tract one-half inile west of the North Cuca- monga Railroad station. He is rapidly improv- ing this land, and is raising a nursery stock, which will be sufficient to plant the whole acreage in choice budded fruit, and has a fine vineyard of fifteen acres on the place that give a large yield of raisin grapes. Mr. Puls has

been identified with the growth and building up of Riverside, and in addition to his horti- cultural industries was from 1876 to 1883 en- gaged as a carpenter and builder.

Mr. Puls is a native of Prussia boru in 1846. In 1851 his parents, Gotleib and Yetta Puls, emigrated to the United States and located in Chicago. There he received his education and learned his trade, being apprenticed at the age of seventeen years. He worked as a journey- man in Chicago until 1871, and then spent about two years at Little Rock, Arkansas. Re- turning to Illinois he located at Evanston, near Chicago, and was there engaged as a bnilder until he came to Riverside.

In 1875 he married Miss Mary Eliza Hnse, a native of Maine; she is a daughter of Abel W. Huse, now a resident of Riverside. From the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Puls there is one child, Winnie Inez, who was born in Riverside. Mr. Puls has ever taken a deep interest in the prosperity and progress of this place. He is a director and member of the Board of Trade, and prominent in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being a member of the lodge and en- campment, and a charter member of the last- named. In politics he is a stanch Republican.

HOMAS R. CUNDIFF came to Califor- nia in 1874, and the next year located in Riverside. Upon his arrival he sought work as a nurseryman, and first worked for Mr. Carleton, and then Mr. Russell. He soon be- camne familiar with horticultural pursuits, and purchasing a team and wagon engaged in im- proving and planting orchards and orange grove lands for non-residents. He worked for several years at this, and soine of the now finest fruit groves in the colony were those he planted in the early days, among which may be noted the groves of Peter Suman and Henry Jaracki, on Brockton avenue.

In 1875 Mr. Cundiff bought twenty acres in Brockton square, on the south side of Bandini

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

avenue, and this he partially improved and then sold to Aberdeen Kietli, and in 1877 pur- chased a twenty-acre tract on the north side of Bandini avenue. Upon that land he commenced his horticultural pursuits upon his own account, planting a large variety of citrus and deciduous trees and also raisin grapes. In latter years he corrected his mistake by rooting ont his decid- nous trees and vines and planting oranges. In 1882 he sold the east ten acres of his tract to George Bryant. This fine place is now owned by Captain J. W. Sayward. The remaining ten acres Mr. Cundiff reserved for his home, and erected upon it a neat cottage residence and comfortable out-buildings. He is destined to have one of the most productive places in Brockton square. Nearly all of his land is in budded orange trees at this writing. Some six acres is giving a fair yield, and trees are coming into bearing every year. His grove shows the care and attention of a thorough horticulturist.

Mr. Cundiff is a native of Missouri, dating his birth in 1852. He was reared and schooled in Farmington, Missouri, until he came to Cal- ifornia, in 1874. His parents were Richard and Agnes (Blue) Cundiff. His father is a native of Kentucky, and his mother of Tennessee.

In 1882 Mr. Cundiff was united in marriage with Miss Anna Finch, the daughter of William Finch, a well-known resident of Riverside. From this marriage there are four children: Florence A., Grace A., Harry T. and Bert N. Mr. Cundiff's long residence has made him well known in the Riverside colony, and his consist- ent course of life and sterling qualities have won him a large circle of friends. In political matters he is a conservative Democrat.

E. OWEN, a pioneer of 1849, residing on the corner of Olive and Eureka streets, Redlands, was born in Sheffield, Ohio. March 16, 1840, he left Ohio for California, shipping his horses and wagons to Chicago. At St. Joe, Missouri, he traded his horses for oxen.

He left Iowa Point, May 10, 1849, with a com- pany consisting of 100 wagons, and September 10 of the same year they arrived in the Saera- mento valley with eighty-three wagons, nnder Captain Dorland. Mr. Owen can tell some in- teresting incidents of the journey across the plains, and of his experiences as a miner in the early days. For several years he engaged in buying and selling cattle and in the butcher business in Placer and Shasta counties. After this he again went to mining. In 1851 he went into the mercantile business at French Gulch, Shasta County, and lost heavily. He then went to the mines. After leaving the mines he fol- lowed the cattle business for twenty years, and at the end of that time went to farming in Napa valley, where he remained five years. In 1873 he came to San Bernardino County and purchased thirty acres of land on Base Line and A streets, which he improved and afterward sold, and pur- chased twenty-five acres in Redlands. Here he has a most beautiful orange orchard of fourteen acres, which is beginning to yield a handsome income, and here he expects to spend the rest of his days. He has been twice married, but has no children, except an adopted daughter, who is an artist and a teacher in the public schools.

OHN DOWN came to Riverside in 1874, his only capital being his trade as brick- layer, combined with an energetic disposi- tion and a willingness to labor. He purchased block 2, range 7, on Main street, between Second and Third streets, planting the same in oranges. The same year he commenced work for Mr. E. M. Sheldon, who had started the pioneer brick- yards on the west side of Buena Vista avenne, north of town, and two years later he entered into partnership under the firm name of Sheldon & Down. The brick-yards were gradually in- creased to meet the growing demands, and con- dueted by that firm until 1886, when Mr. Sheldon retired and Mr. Alguire came into the

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

firin under the firm name of Down & Alguire, since which time they have conducted a brick- making and building business. In 1882 Mr. Down, in addition to his business in Riverside, established and conducted a brick-yard at San Jacinto for four years. He is now the owner of nearly 100 acres of land, located about one mile north of Riverside. The brick-yards are upon his land and are admirably located both for sup- plying the home demand and for shipping by railroad, as his lands have a frontage on the California Central Railroad (Santa Fé system) of nearly one-fourth of a mile, enabling him to put on side-tracks to the brick kilns.

He is a thorough agriculturist, as is well attested by his orange grove and vineyard upon a thirty-five-acre tract on the west side of Orange street about one mile north of the city. At this writing Mr. Down is laying out beauti- ful grounds, planting ornamental trees and floral productions npon a portion of his lands on the west side of Buena Vista avenue, upon which he will erect his residence in the near future. He has also business property in Riverside, among which is twenty-five feet frontage of the sub- stantial Cosmopolitan block, corner of Eighth and Orange, which is owned by the firm. Mr. Down has been prominently connected with the building interests of Riverside, and it may be truthfully said that there is not a brick building in Riverside of any magnitude erected within the past ten years, that he and his associates in business has not had the contract for the brick and inason work. Mr. Down was born in Eng- land, near Plymonth, in 1849, his parents being John and Johanna (Roberts) Down, also natives of that country. Early in life, when but thirteen years of age, he was apprenticed to the mason's and stone cutter's trade, and worked at the calling near his native place until 1870. In that year he came to the United States and located in Cleveland, Ohio, where he remained until 1872, when he removed to Colorado, living in Black Hawk and Central City, where, in addition to his trade, he worked as a miner, but not meeting with the desired success he contin-

ued his westward march. In 1874 he came to Riverside, where, with the exception of about four years spent in San Jacinto, he has since resided. He is a progressive and public- spirited citizen, and a ready supporter of all enterprises that tend to build up his chosen city. He is a stockholder in the Riverside Gas Company, Loring Opera House Association and other in- corporations. He has for many years been a consistent member of the Methodist Church, and also a member of Evergreen Lodge, No. 259, I. O. O. F., of Riverside. Politically he has for years been a Republican, but is a strong supporter of the Prohibition party and its prin- ciples. In 1880 Mr. Down was married with Miss Lois Sheldon, the only daughter of E. M. Sheldon, his former partner in business. The only child born from this marriage was Gracie, who died in 1886 at the age of five years and six months.

R. WILLIAM H. BALL .- Among the noticeable fine orange groves of Riverside is that owned by the above named gentle- man. His grove, of twenty acres in extent, is situated on the southeast corner of Cypress and Bandini avenues, about one and one-half miles south of the business centre of Riverside. Dr. Ball purchased the land in 1875, and the next spring commenced its improvement, first plant- ing 800 seedling orange trees and the balanee to deciduous fruits: the last named he has since replaced with citrus fruits. At this writing his orange grove comprises 1,150 seedlings and 800 budded trees of the Mediterranean Sweets, Washington Navel, Malta Blood, and Duroi varieties, besides his citrus fruits and grapes for family use: his fine groves show the care and attention of a thorough horticulturist, and his snceess is attested by the fact that his thirteen- year-old trees, seedlings, in 1888 yield $300 per acre net. The other trees are of various ages and not in full bearing. but their propor- tionate yield is even larger than that above

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

given. The Doctor took this land when in its comparatively wild state, and has just cause to be proud of the results of his year's labor. Dr. Ball also owns twenty acres of land abont three miles south of his home place, located in section 32, south of Jurupa avenue. This land was purchased in 1890, and will in 1891 he planted with raisin grape vines, for which it is well adapted.

Mr. Ball is a native of Henry County, Ken- tucky, and dates his birth in 1828. His father, William D. Ball, was a native of Virginia, and was a descendant from an old colonial family. He came in his young manhood to Kentucky, and there he married Miss Barbara Hall, also a native of that State. Dr. Ball was reared and sehooled in his native state, and at the age of twenty-three years commenced his inedical studies in the Kentucky School of Medicine, at Louisville, and graduated from the med- ical departinent of the Transylvania University at Lexington, Kentucky, in 1856. After his graduation, he entered on the practice of his pro- fession in Trimble County, Kentucky, where he continned until 1859. He then moved to In- diana, and spent two years in Tippecanoe County, and finally located at Brookston, White County, where he was in successful practice for over twenty years. Dr. Ball took a leading part, both professionally and socially, in the community in which he spent so many years of his life, but his failing health compelled an entire change of climate, and in 1880 decided to make Riverside his permanent home. He was for years a member of the County Medical School in his Indiana home, and is now a member of the San Bernardino Medical Asso- ciation. The Doctor, although not a pioneer in residence, has for nearly fifteen years been identified with Riverside and its interests, and is well known to the community, among which he has a large circle of friends.

In 1857 Dr. Ball married Miss Martha Kennedy, a native of Indiana. She died in 1869. There are four elildren living from this marriage, viz .: Victor, who married Miss

Alice Shigley; Fernando W., Clement L. and Seymour C. His second marriage was in 1871, when he was wedded to Miss Maria Babcock, a native of Massachusetts. No children have been born from this marriage.

OSEPH H. KELLY, of Mission District, San Bernardino County, is known far and wide as the most extensive dealer and trainer of horses in the county. He has a fine ranch of 100 acres, on which he has recently built a neat and comfortable residence. For the past ten years he has given his entire at- tention to horses, and at present has about fifty head, some of them as well bred as any in the State. Last spring he sold a pair of trotters for $6,000. Mr. Kelly is a native of Quincy, Illinois, and came to California in 1861. In the spring of 1862 he went to Holeomb valley, where he followed mining and teaming for a number of years. Fourteen years ago he was married, and bought the ranch on which he at present resides.

DWIN HART .- Among the leading hor- ticulturists of Riverside colony none are more deserving of mention than the sub- ject of this sketch. . Mr. Hart is a native of Cortland County, New York, born in 1835, and reared and received his education in his native place. At the age of eighteen years he started for the great West, and located in Beloit, Wis- consin. His boyhood days, when not attending school, were spent in his father's store, and was somewhat schooled in mercantile life, but upon his advent in Wisconsin he engaged in farming. He spent eight years in that State, and in 1862 moved to Iowa, and settled near Belle Plain in Taina County. Mr. Hart settled down to farın life, but the war of the Rebellion, then raging, appealed so strongly to his patriotism that he entered the United States military service as a

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

private in the Sixth Regiment of Iowa Cavalry. The Indian outbreak of the Northwest was thien at its height, and his command sent him in that direction. He participated in the Indian wars and campaigns that followed, and served faithfully, discharging his duties in a soldierly manner, and was promoted to be Sergeant. It was not until the fall of 1865 that he received his honorable discharge from the service. After this he spent a year in Wisconsin, and in 1866 returned to Iowa and continued his farın- ing operations until 1873. In that year he came to California and settled in Riverside. Upon his arrival he purchased from L. C. Waite a squatter's right to an eighty-acre tract of Government land, three miles south of River- side. Forty acres of this land, at that time, had been plowed, but no attempt had been made in tree planting; the balance was as it came from nature's hand. Mr. Hart took possession of this land and engaged in horticultural pur- suits and general farming, which he successfully conducted for years. He now owns forty acres of land, fifteen acres of which are devoted to raisin-growing, three acres in lemons, and the balance, except that occupied by his residence, ont buildings and extensive grounds, is pro- ducing oranges. He is a first-class horticult- urist, and conducts his enterprise on sonnd business principles. He packs and markets his fruits and raisins, and his name upon a fruit package is considered by dealers as a guarantee of a first class article. The building improve- ments upon his model ranch denote a successful citizen, and his fine two-story residence is a model of convenience and comfort, beautiful in architectural design and imposing in appearance. His spacious and well ordered grounds abound in shade and ornamental trees, rich floral plants and grassy lawns that add much to the beauty and comfort of his California home. A com- mnodious fruit-packing honse, substantial stables and outbuildings have also been erected. Mr. Hart has been a supporter of Riverside enter- prises, a stockholder in the Citrus Fair Asso- ciation, Arlington Riverside Railway, and other

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Author: Lewis Publishing Company Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : The Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1038

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1038